The Indian Army has ordered 1,300 Mahindra Armored Light Specialist Vehicles (ALSV) from Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd (MDSL) at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore. MDSL has to complete the order in four years. The Light Specialist Vehicle is to be armed with Medium Machine Gun, Automatic Grenade Launcher and Anti-tank Guided Missiles for various fighting units of IA. The Light Specialist Vehicle designed and developed by MDSL within India.
“These combat vehicles are extremely agile with all round protection against small arms fire and will assist small independent detachments which are required to operate this weapons platform in the operational area,” says the Ministry of Defence release.
As per MDSL, the ALSV provides protected mobility for the front, side and rear as per STANAG Level I Ballistics and Blast for four crew members with battle load having ample stowage space for arms and ammunition inside the crew compartment and additional 400 Kgs cargo load-carrying capacity. It is upgradable up to STANAG – II Ballistics.
ALSV comes equipped with a 3.2 Lts, 215 HP multi-fuel diesel engine with 4/6 Speed Automatic Transmission, 4X4 with front and rear differential locks, self-recovery winch, and high travel all-wheel independent suspension with the central type inflation system. The vehicle has a 1,000 Kg payload capacity.
It has a self-cleaning-type exhaust scavenging and air filtration system meant for an extreme dusty climate, which makes it ideal for deserts. ALSV is capable of a maximum speed of > 120 Kmph, and acceleration – 0 to 60 Kmph in 12 seconds. It has 30-degree gradability with parking brake holding capacity in full GVW, and 50 Kms run-flat system on all five wheels as per FINABEL standard.